On a chilly evening in Chicago, a memorable finish unfolded as Josh Giddey secured the win for the Bulls with an astonishing 47-foot shot, resulting in a 119-117 triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.
The Bulls flew against an 18-point cushion in the fourth quarter and were still down by 115-110 with only 12.6 seconds remaining. Patrick Williams drilled a huge three-pointer, dropping the deficit to a two-point game. Then on the next possession, Giddey intercepted LeBron James’ inbound pass and quickly fed Coby White, who buried another triple for a 116-115 Bulls lead with 6.1 seconds to go.
However, Austin Reaves went down to score a layup for the Lakers, a play that gave them the slight edge at 117-116 with 3.3 seconds left in regulation. With no timeouts, the Bulls inbounded to Giddey, and he dribbled quickly past half-court and rose for a deep three-pointer over James as the clock ran out. The shot went in, sending the Bulls players and fans into a frenzy at the United Center, as the game had ended.
Giddey posted a great 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists for his fifth triple-double of the season; he is also the first person ever in the NBA to record a triple-double against the Lakers and hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer. Coby White pitched in with 26 points, and Kevin Huerter supported him with 21 points. The Bulls captured a ninth win in 11 games.
For the Lakers, Austin Reaves had a leading role with 30 points; Luka Doncic supported the effort with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. LeBron James had 17 points and 12 assists but was involved with the crucial turnover that gave the Bulls momentum late in the game.
That last-minute defeat surely hit the Lakers hard, especially coming off the previous night’s buzzer-beater win over Indiana. “Devastation” was how the loss was described by coach JJ Redick, who let the emotional swing go from one game to the next.
This win is probably the mark of the Bulls: their fighting spirit and their desire to find a better standing in the Eastern Conference. For the Lakers, it is a reminder of how the entire landscape of the NBA can shift from game to game and shows the importance of keeping your focus until the final buzzer.
